Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key – Video Game News, Reviews, Walkthroughs And Guides | GamingBolt https://gamingbolt.com Get a Bolt of Gaming Now! Wed, 13 Aug 2025 15:59:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Mortal Kombat 1, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and More Coming to PS Plus Extra/Premium on August 19th https://gamingbolt.com/mortal-kombat-1-marvels-spider-man-and-more-coming-to-ps-plus-extra-premium-on-august-19th Wed, 13 Aug 2025 15:59:02 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=625889 Sony has revealed the latest upcoming additions to PlayStation Plus’s Game Catalog, available starting August 19th for Extra and Premium/Deluxe subscribers. The most prominent titles are Mortal Kombat 1, recently announced to have sold over 6.2 million copies, and Marvel’s Spider-Man. PS4 players get the latter’s Game of the Year Edition, while PS5 players will receive the Remastered version.

Other notable releases include Giant Squid’s Sword of the Sea, launching on the same day worldwide for PS5 and PC. Subscribers can also check out Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key, Coral Island, Earth Defense Force 6, Harold Halibut, Indika and Unicorn Overlord. It’s a solid line-up, especially for role-playing game fans.

However, that’s not all for Premium/Deluxe subscribers, as they can also play Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, two legendary PS One classics, on PS4 and PS5. Both titles support quick save, custom filters, rewind and up-rendering for a smoother experience.

]]> 625889 Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key Crosses 300,000 Digital Sales and Shipments https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-crosses-300000-digital-sales-and-shipments https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-crosses-300000-digital-sales-and-shipments#respond Thu, 27 Apr 2023 10:44:27 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=550984 Gust has announced that Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key has passed 300,000 digital sales and shipments worldwide. It’s now the fastest-selling title in the Secret trilogy. Previously, Koei Tecmo announced that it sold over 290,000 units as of March 31st, 2023.

As the conclusion to the trilogy, Atelier Ryza 3 sees Reisalin Stout returning to her home town to assist with various matters. Suddenly, strange islands and ruins emerged nearby, disrupting life for the people. With the help of Klaudia, Tao, Lent and Bos, she explores the new region, uncovering secrets and mysterious Keys along the way.

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key offered several improvements to the series’ formula, like areas in regions being seamlessly connected and having no load times. It’s out now for PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch. Check out our official review for more details, including why it’s the best in the series.

]]> https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-crosses-300000-digital-sales-and-shipments/feed 0 550984 WILD HEARTS, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Had “Successful” Launches – Koei Tecmo https://gamingbolt.com/wild-hearts-wo-long-fallen-dynasty-had-successful-launches-koei-tecmo https://gamingbolt.com/wild-hearts-wo-long-fallen-dynasty-had-successful-launches-koei-tecmo#respond Mon, 24 Apr 2023 15:01:59 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=550694 Koei Tecmo revealed its financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2023, and confirmed that Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty and WILD HEARTS had “successful” launches (translations via MauroNL on Twitter). It didn’t provide sales figures for either title.

Other noteworthy releases in that period include Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and The Secret Key. Despite launching on the same day as Resident Evil 4 Remake, it sold over 290,000 units worldwide. Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse, a re-release of the Nintendo Wii horror title, launched earlier in the month and sold 120,000 units.

The publisher reported $584.3 million in revenue, up 7.8 percent year-over-year. However, net profit was down by 12.5 percent over the same period at $230.5 million. It’s currently projecting $710 million in revenue and 10.4 million units shipped in the fiscal year 2023, perhaps with Rise of the Ronin launching next year for PS5. The company expects it to sell five million copies, though a release date hasn’t been confirmed.

]]> https://gamingbolt.com/wild-hearts-wo-long-fallen-dynasty-had-successful-launches-koei-tecmo/feed 0 550694 Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key Review – That Summer Feeling https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-review-that-summer-feeling https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-review-that-summer-feeling#respond Wed, 29 Mar 2023 12:35:37 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=548038 It’s hard to believe that the Atelier Ryza series is less than four years old. As Gust’s best-selling titles in this long-running franchise, the adventures of Reisalin Stout and her friends have resonated with many people in a short time. Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key is the conclusion of the Secret trilogy and manages to be the best yet. While taking a more focused approach with its narrative, it retains the series’ penchant for relaxed gathering, laid-back exploration and fast-paced combat.

After her journey to the capital in the previous game, Ryza returns to her hometown on Kurken Island for Summer vacation. Older and more skilled as an alchemist, but still very stubborn and set in her ways, her arrival is quickly followed by the emergence of the Kark Islands. Though Tao and Bos are there to assist against monsters in the initial scouting party, Ryza begins hearing a cryptic voice in her head, pushing her to investigate the Islands further.

"Though many of the mainland’s areas are reused, it’s now one giant map instead of a series of interconnected levels."

With another adventure on her hands, she sends a letter to her allies, and together with Klaudia and Lent, the group sets out to discover the mystery behind the Kark Islands. Right away, the narrative is impressive in its urgency. You’re not only thrown into battle very quickly but told in no uncertain terms that what’s happening is an emergency. It also serves as a tutorial to get players up to speed on the combat mechanics while quickly introducing the initial characters.

After this, you’re quickly introduced to Ryza’s hometown and her Secret Hideout, where the alchemy happens. You’ll fulfil a few basic requests for the townsfolk, which helps get you up to speed on the alchemy basics, and then it’s off to the mainland to investigate the Kark Islands.

Though many of the mainland’s areas are reused, it’s now one giant map instead of a series of interconnected levels. No loading times, as you seamlessly go from one location to the next, gathering materials, potentially crowding your basket and returning to the hideout to dump them.

The Kark Islands are a massive mini-region with landmarks, enemies, and secrets. You’ll encounter dolphins, who serve as mounts to traverse the underwater parts, and each small island provides different secrets and Random Quests to complete. Of course, after reaching the mysterious castle, Ryza and friends can use the Secret Key, thanks to the mysterious voice, to craft new Pristine Keys and Hollow Keys.

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"But make no mistake – the gameplay loop of previous games is very much present here. Despite the story’s urgency, Atelier Ryza 3 is very much about taking things at your own pace."

And this is only really the beginning of the game, as Ryza and the group encounter Frederica, the deputy head chief of the craftsman guild in Sardonica, located in the new Cleria region. It’s another large map to explore, teeming with people to talk to, stores to visit, materials to gather (and buy) and lots of ground to offer. The sheer size and scale are pretty impressive, keeping fans busy as they explore each nook and cranny (though the rewards may not always be worth it).

But make no mistake – the gameplay loop of previous games is very much present here. Despite the story’s urgency, Atelier Ryza 3 is very much about taking things at your own pace. While it’s encouraged to progress quickly to unlock more alchemy and combat options, you can idle in places for as long as you’d like, completing Random Quests for SP and other materials, fighting monsters to level up and experimenting with the crafting. It’s relaxing in that respect, but combat will keep you on your toes due to its action-based nature.

When entering battles, your party and enemies will have an ATB-like bar to fill while waiting for their turns and gathering AP. You can guard against attacks in real-time, and when it’s your turn, execute combos and use abilities to damage enemies. As you accrue CC, the ATB bar is bypassed to use items and immediately deal damage.

However, you can also switch between party members in the back row, continuing combos and feeding into the Orders from your teammates. Deal some physical damage with Ryza, switch to Klaudia and deal magic damage, which activates Orders from Lent and Tao, and then switch to Bos to finish off enemies.

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"For the most part, battles in Atelier Ryza 3 are fast-paced and fluid."

While your two other active party members are controlled by the AI, either in Support or Aggressive modes, you can directly control them in battle. It’s a good way to block damage against stronger opponents, especially bosses. With multiple foes at once, it can get disorienting when a single party member is targeted by their attacks.

You won’t necessarily see what they’re doing, resulting in some iffy blocking. It’s particularly annoying when attacked mid-combo – better indicators for when attacks are about to land would have helped. You could pause in the middle of combat for a better idea of the positioning, so there’s at least that.

Each character has a Core Crystal with a corresponding element, and by using Core Shards, you can unlock benefits like increasing the max CC and the amount at the start of a battle, boosting the power of Core Items and reducing CC cost. So if you have Bos dealing, say, Ice damage with an attack, he’ll gain more CC. With stronger Core Item effects and reduced CC costs, you could assail foes with bombs to quickly end fights against weaker enemies.

For the most part, battles in Atelier Ryza 3 are fast-paced and fluid. And just when you think things are getting easy or settling into a monotonous rhythm (which can happen due to somewhat lackluster enemy variety), keys are introduced. The Hollow Keys are used on enemies below 80 percent health to extract various effects, which can provide temporary buffs and effects to a party member in combat. They’re reliant on CC and Technical Level (which must be above two), and they can offer some interesting little boosts when needed.

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"It’s a lot to manage, especially if you pick up a lot of junk materials that don’t have the requisite traits, high enough quality, or the required level to fill out the Material Loops."

Keys are generated at landmarks and can open glowing chests in that region to obtain materials. You also have Pristine Keys, which are crafted and provide even more effects.

All this feeds into the core gameplay loop of alchemy. You’ll once again gather materials and synthesize different items, filling out material loops to bestow them with different keys. Alchemy is important for creating Gathering Tools like the Hammer, Fishing Rod and Scythe for collecting various materials. It’s also used to craft and upgrade armor and weapons, synthesize items with different types of elemental damage and heal your party, and much more.

The alchemy system is fairly complex, especially as you sort through materials with different traits and qualities. Crafting materials with a specific trait and then stacking them can lead to much stronger effects, and that’s not even factoring in the Super Traits, which have separate conditions to unlock. Throw in Keys, which perform several functions like adding materials, increasing attributes, and much more, and you can tinker with item creation for a very long time.

It’s a lot to manage, especially if you pick up a lot of junk materials that don’t have the requisite traits, high enough quality, or the required level to fill out the Material Loops. Of course, if things get too complex, you can go with a quick crafting method, which automatically adds all the required ingredients to craft an item (with a choice of High-Quality or Low-Quality materials). As you earn SP, you’ll unlock new recipes in the Skill Tree, further expanding your range of alchemical options.

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"Bugs were few and far between, with the biggest being an entire lake that was somehow empty but still had leaves and a boat on the surface."

The complexity of the systems can be overwhelming to pick up at first, especially when the otherwise helpful tutorials skip out on some important bits. It would have been nice to know about certain characters’ Orders for stunning enemies when they’re preparing stronger attacks (though there are other ways to break them).

In terms of presentation, Atelier Ryza 3 looks very good, with a bright and colorful palette and gorgeous animated vistas to explore. Performance is also good, though I had to tone down some settings on PC for a more consistent 60 FPS. The temporal anti-aliasing also felt a bit off, but FXAA does the job just fine. Bugs were few and far between, with the biggest being an entire lake that was somehow empty but still had leaves and a boat on the surface.

The music is easily more impressive than the visuals, with the orchestration delivering bold, rousing tunes one second and more contemplative, emotionally involving tracks with more distinct instruments. It helps evoke that feeling of being in a fairy tale without getting too whimsical.

Atelier Ryza 3 Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key_03

"Far from reinventing the wheel, it expands on established systems, feeds into the sense of adventure with massive seamless maps, and delivers a compelling plot with a likeable cast."

Though the writing isn’t going to overwhelm anyone with its brilliance, there are still some genuinely fun and heart-warming moments. I was most impressed by the overall progression of the cast’s arc. If Ryza 1 evoked that feeling of a memorable Summer with your friends, then Ryza 3 is about those feelings of nostalgia as the group transitions to adulthood. It’s a throwback to the days of hanging out with your friends, making jokes, and seeing what awaits around every corner. Just make sure you get used to the field dialogue – it’s limited and repeated a lot.

If you couldn’t get into the first two games, be it the overall vibe or the alchemy, then Atelier Ryza 3 will do little to change your mind. As a send-off to a story that’s developed at its own comfortable pace, Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key is a pretty good RPG. Far from reinventing the wheel, it expands on established systems, feeds into the sense of adventure with massive seamless maps, and delivers a compelling plot with a likeable cast.

This game was reviewed on PC.

]]> https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-review-that-summer-feeling/feed 0 548038 Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key is Out Now https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-is-out-now https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-is-out-now#respond Mon, 27 Mar 2023 08:48:09 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=547756 Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key, the final chapter in Gust’s RPG series, is now available for PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch. It sees Reisalin Stout, aka Ryza, and her friends reuniting in their hometown, only to receive news of mysterious islands that have suddenly emerged. Check out the launch trailer below.

Determined to restore her home town, Ryza teams with returning characters like Tao, Lent and Klaudia. New party members also join the fray, like Bos, their childhood friend; Frederica, deputy union head of the craftsman union in Sardonica; and many more. Combat is expanded with new Keys used to activate specific effects.

These Keys can also activate different effects in the new seamless open-world maps and also help in Synthesis. There’s more to come with artifacts, Legend difficulty and the Ateleir Series Legacy BGM Pack, all free. Season Pass owners will receive new outfits, the Gust Extra BGM Pack and a story expansion with a new region, Rosca Island. Head here for the current DLC roadmap.

]]> https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-is-out-now/feed 0 547756 Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key – Season Pass and Free Updates Detailed https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-season-pass-and-free-updates-detailed https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-season-pass-and-free-updates-detailed#respond Tue, 21 Mar 2023 11:22:39 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=547103 Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key is out later this week, and Koei Tecmo and Gust have revealed content coming at launch and after. At launch, Season Pass owners get the “GUST Collaboration” Costume Set, with two costumes from Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream and the “Endless Summer Splash!” Costume Set, which adds 11 new outfits for each party member.

In April, Photo Mode will get new frames and motions for free. Three new artifacts are also being added, like Lamb Roast, which measures damage dealt within five turns of combat, providing rewards based on total damage, maximum chains etc. Weasel Roast allows for fighting and defeating monsters under certain conditions for rewards. Devil Roast lets players change an enemy of Lamb or Weasel Roast into any other kind.

In May 2023, Season Pass owners will receive the “Far East Travelers” Costume Set for nine Far Eastern-themed costumes. Two Recipe Expansion Packs, “Alchemy Mysteries” and “Art of Adventure”, are also coming. The former adds two new recipes, ten traits for synthesis and 20 new ingredients. The latter adds 15 new recipes for attack, healing and support items and five new Core Ingredients.

In June, a free update adds Legend difficulty and the Atelier Series Legacy BGM Pack, which features over 1,000 tracks from previous titles. You can listen to tracks from the series, starting with Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg to Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness and the Secret Hideout.

Finally, Season Pass owners will receive a new open field region, Rosca Island, with new World Quests (though there won’t be any voice acting for the events). They also get the Gust Extra BGM Pack, with over 400 tracks from games like Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends and the Secret Fairy, Atelier Sophie 2, and more.

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key is out on March 24th for PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC. Stay tuned for more details when it releases.

]]> https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-season-pass-and-free-updates-detailed/feed 0 547103 Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key is 30 Hours Long, as Per Famitsu Review https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-is-30-hours-long-as-per-famitsu-review https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-is-30-hours-long-as-per-famitsu-review#respond Wed, 15 Mar 2023 09:22:09 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=546562 While Resident Evil 4 remake is no doubt garnering the attention of many, RPG fans can look forward to Gust’s Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key launching on the same day. The first review is available from Famitsu, which reported a playtime of 30 hours without doing side content.

If you do everything, you could spend about 60 hours with the game. As surprising as they may be, it tracks with previous games in the series. Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness and the Secret Hideout requires 63.5 hours for completionists on average, according to HowLongToBeat. Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends and the Secret Fairy requires about 67 hours on average for completionists.

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End of the Secret Key launches on March 24th for PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch. It’s the end of the Summer trilogy, as Reisalin Stout and friends explore some mysterious ruins and islands appearing in their home town. Along with fast-paced combat and new Keys, the world comprises multiple connected maps with no load times.

]]> https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-is-30-hours-long-as-per-famitsu-review/feed 0 546562 Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key Has Gone Gold https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-has-gone-gold https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-has-gone-gold#comments Mon, 20 Feb 2023 10:22:30 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=544311 Koei Tecmo has a busy quarter with the recently-released WILD HEARTS and the upcoming Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. Role-playing game fans should take note, as Gust’s Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key is also on the horizon. It recently went gold, so it’s on track for a March release.

Capping off the Summer trilogy, the story sees Reisalin Stout returning to her home town and reuniting with Tao, Lent and Klaudia. However, when mysterious islands and ruins emerge, the group must set out with new and returning allies to investigate. Ryza also hears a voice talking to her about the “Code of the Universe,” whatever that may be.

There are 11 party members, making for the biggest cast in the series. Each has unique abilities, and there are also new Keys that Ryza can use in battle and exploration. Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key is out on March 24th for PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Stay tuned for more details en route to release.

]]> https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-has-gone-gold/feed 10 544311 Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key Opening Movie Showcases Entire Cast https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-opening-movie-showcases-entire-cast https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-opening-movie-showcases-entire-cast#comments Sun, 05 Feb 2023 08:16:34 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=542839 Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key, the finale to the Ryza trilogy, was set to release this month before being delayed to March. Nevertheless, it continues to look good, as seen in the opening movie released by Gust. Check it out below.

It features the entire playable cast, from Reisalin “Ryza” Stout and her friends, Lent, Klaudia and Tao, to returning allies like Empel, Lila and Patricia. Former nemesis turned ally Bos Brunnen is playable for the first time and joined by newcomers like Federica Lamberti, Dian Farrell and Kala Ideas.

As for the story, it sees Ryza returning to her hometown to discover strange islands emerging nearby. There are strange ruins to explore and a mysterious voice that tells her about the “Code of the Universe.” Atelier Ryza 3 still has several maps, but each is one giant field instead of interconnected areas. There are no loading times, allowing for seamless exploration.

For more details on the combat and new Keys, head here. Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key is out on March 24th for PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch.

]]> https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-opening-movie-showcases-entire-cast/feed 6 542839 Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key Delayed to March 24th https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-delayed-to-march-24th https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-delayed-to-march-24th#respond Wed, 18 Jan 2023 07:19:11 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=541097 Koei Tecmo and Gust have announced a delay to Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key. Originally slated to release on February 24th for PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch, it’s now launching on March 24th worldwide.

Producer Junzo Hosoi provided a statement on the delay, noting that additional time was needed to “fine-tune the final touches.” “To make this game a fitting finale for Ryza and her friends, we have taken on challenges such as adventuring in a vast open field and graphics that express the charm of these characters to the fullest extent.

“Our team will take this additional time to fine-tune the final touches so that we can deliver to all of you who have been following the series the best possible experience in this culmination of Ryza and her friends’ adventures.”

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key sees Reisalin Stout and her friends returning to their hometown for the Summer. Mysterious islands and ruins suddenly appear while a voice speaks of the “Code of the Universe.” It’s up to Ryza and her friends to investigate.

The biggest new feature of the sequel is the world. It has several maps, but each is explored seamlessly with no loading times. Eleven party members aid Ryza, from regulars like Lent, Tao and Klaudia to former-friend-turned-enemy-turned-friend Bos Brunnen and new characters. New keys provide a variety of effects in combat, Synthesis and more. Stay tuned for more details en route to release.

]]> https://gamingbolt.com/atelier-ryza-3-alchemist-of-the-end-and-the-secret-key-delayed-to-march-24th/feed 0 541097